CNN CEO Chris Licht has reportedly looked to add CBS Mornings host Gayle King to the network’s primetime lineup.
Licht and King have a history working together, as the CNN CEO previously helmed the CBS morning show — then titled CBS This Morning — and brought King to the program.
A report from Dylan Byers of Puck News claims Licht views King as a natural for a primetime role with CNN.
King reportedly signed a contract extension to remain with CBS early last year, but could conceivably work out a deal similar to that of Anderson Cooper, who works for both networks.
It is not the first time King has been courted by CNN. Before his ouster as CNN President, Jeff Zucker had approached King about stepping into the 9:00 PM ET slot previously occupied by Chris Cuomo.
The allure of King to Licht would be an obvious one. In a similar vein to longtime CNN primetime host Larry King, Gayle King has shown being comfortable interviewing world leaders and other newsmakers, as well as celebrities, actors, and artists.
Since joining CNN, Licht has been adamant about reversing course for the network after a perceived hit in its credibility during the presidency of Donald Trump. The network has seen a nearly complete revamp of its lineup and hasn’t been shy about thinking outside the box.
“One of the biggest misconceptions about my vision is that I want to be vanilla, that I want to be centrist. That is bullshit,” Licht told The Financial Times in November.
